Method and means for cleaning nose boards on axminster looms



Dec. 23, 1952 LAMB 2,622,625

= s FOR CLE A. METHOD AND MEAN ANING NOSE ON A LOOMS BOARDS XMINSTER Filed March 16, 1951 INVENTOR ARTHUR LAMB ATTORNEY.

Paiented Dec. 23, 1952 METHOD AND MEANS FOR CLEANING NOSE BOARDS ON AXMINSTER LOOMS Arthur Lamb, Auburn, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 16, 1951, Serial No. 216,017

(Cl. l397) 18 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method of and means for cleaning the notched or toothed nose boards in Axminster looms;

In a Well-known type of Axminster loom the tufts of the fabric being woven are pushed forwardly over hooks on'a notched or toothed nose or cloth board. The teeth are separated by slots which receive the dents of the reed and in some instances a comb consisting of guide aisle plates is utilized to assist in guiding the tuft yarns dur ing the tuft forming operation. During operation of the loom fibers break off the yarns of which the fabric is made and become embedded in the slots and interfere with movement of the reed dents and the guide aisle plates.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a lengthwise passage in the nose board running across the loom through which a blast of air can be directedifor blowing out the accumulated lint. This passage maybe formed in part by a channel which in turn is formed by aligned upwardly opening slots cut in the teeth of the nose board. I

It is a further object of the invention to utilize the woven cloth extending over the channel to form the top part of the passage.

It is a still further object of the invention to direct a stream of air through the passage while the reed dents are in their slots and between the teeth, thereby preventing lateral escape of air, and thereafter close the exhaust end of the passage and require the air to escape through the reed dent slots after the reed has moved out of them.

In the beat-up of a row of tufts being formed the reed moves the tufts over hooks on the teeth of the nose board to a point slightly forward of the hooks sufficient to permit the back strands of the tufts to move down in front of the hooks. The cloth board of Axminster looms generally inclines downwardly and forwardly while the warp threads exert a strain on the fell of the cloth rearwardly in a more or less horizontal direction. As a result of the angular relation of the cloth and the line of pull of the warp threads there is likely to be a downward force exerted on the last row of tufts. In order that this last row may be adequately supported and withstand the downward pull of the Warp threads it is a further object of the invention to provide the teeth of the nose board with a short support area extending forwardly from the hooks sufficiently to keep the row of tufts being formed inicorrectposition and prevent them from being drawn down into the upwardly opening channel.

In a modified form of the invention the top of the channel is formed by a plate added to the top of the cloth board when a cheaper fabric having lower pile tufts is to bewoven.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein two forms of the invention are set forth,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of part of an Axminster loom having the preferred form of the present invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail vertical section on line 2-2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3, Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4, Fig. 3, the reed dents and comb being indicated in dot and dash lines in beat-up position,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but setting forth diagrammatically the motion of the guide aisle plates in that part of the loom cycle preparatory to a tuft forming operation,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a side of the loom with controls for the compressed air system for both forms of the invention,

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section. through a three shot Axminster fabric which can be woven on the loom showing its tightly Woven ground Weave adapting it to close the top of the air channel in the preferred form of the invention,

Fig. 8 is a side elevation looking in the direction of arrow 8, Fig. 2, indicating the manner in which the exhaust end of the air passage is closed to cause lateral escape of compressed air through the slots of the nose board, and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 6, the loom frame 1 supports a bottom shaft 2 which in the present instance rotates once every third beat of the loom. The lay 3 is mounted on a shaft 4 which is rocked in usual manner by power derived from shaft 2 and transmitted through one or more rods 5.

Front and back tuft cutting knife mechanisms 6 and 1 are ordinarily in their spaced relation shown in Fig. 1 but move together to cut the tuft after it has been formed at the fell of the cloth or fabric F. The bottom shaft 2 also supplies power for moving the knives, Figs. 1 and 6 indicating the knife mechanism 6 mounted on a rocking shaft 8 to which is connected a depending arm 9 attached to one or more rods [0 leading rearwardly for operation by power derived from shaft 2. The loom operates with the usual tube frames one of which, shown at l2, has a bar l3 to the front edge of which are attached yarn tubes I l through which extend yarns Y wound on a spool S.

A type of three shot fabric which may be woven on the loom is shown in Fig. '7 and comprises stuffer warps 23 and binder warps 2| and 22. The stuffer warps divide the fabric into two planes with respect to the cross shots, these shots being double and arranged as shown in Fig. 7 so that every alternate top shot I has a tuft T held by it while the intermediate top shots II are held between the binders 2| and 22. The third bottom shot III for each tuft is below the stuifers and is held by the binders 2 I. Harnes frames 25, 23 and 21 may operate in usual manner on the binder and stuffer warps to form a warp shed designated generally at W in which the shots of filling are inserted by a needle N.

A stationary support forming part of the loom frame has secured thereto a nose board 3| the rear part of which is provided with a plurality of teeth 32 separated transversely of the I loom by slots 33' to receive the reed dents 34 of a reed designated generally at R. The reed has a forward motion after each filling shot inserting operation of the needle N. Extending into the slots 33 are plates 35 of a comb designated at C mounted on a structure 36 rocking about a pivot 31 under action of a rod 38.

In the operation of the matter thus far described the comb C is normally in forward position, or to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, and the reed R will be in rear position when the needle N lays the first of three filling shots, such for instance as a shot II. After the needle has been retracted the reed will move forwardly to move this shot II up over hooks 43 on the teeth 32 to a position forward of the hooks. On the next beat-up of the reed a filling shot III may be moved to a position rearward of the hooks 48 without being pushed over the latter and the reed will then move rearwardly. The tube frame 12 will then be dipped and the tuft yarns will be inserted between the binder warps and a third filling shot I will be laid by the needle N.

The rod 38 will then rock the structure 38 in a clockwise direction around pivot 3'! to move the comb plates 35 to the dotted line position, Fig. 5. These plates are in register with the reed dents and move rearwardly through the lower parts of slots 33 and between the depending tuft yarns until their rear edges are close to the reed dents. The reed and the comb C then move forwardly for a full stroke to move both of the picks III and I over the nose board to a position in front of the hooks The tube frame is then lifted to pull off yarn for the next operation and the cutting knife mechanisms come into action to sever the tufts from the tube frame.

The matter thus far described may be as set forth in prior Patents Nos. 1,958,129 and 2,021,406, the particular sequence of beating up the filling shots being more particularly as described in the latter of these two patents. The invention to be set forth hereinafter however is not limited to the specific procedure described for beating up the filling shots.

In carrying the preferred form of the invention into effect each of the teeth 32 is provided with an upwardly opening cross slot 50. The slots 50 are closed on their bottoms and aligned to define a channel 5| extending across the loom.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 4 each cross slot 50 is defined by a substantially vertical rear edge 52, a bottom 53, and a front vertical edge 54. The lower part of the latter edge is defined by part of its tooth while the upper part is formed by the solid untoothed part of the nose board.

Extending forwardly, or to the left as viewed in Fig. 4, from the bottom of nose 40 of each tooth 32 is a supporting edge or surface which aligns more or less with the top surface 56 of the nose board on which the fabric F is supported. Each of the teeth of the nose board is provided with one of the slots 50 as already described, and a convenient way to make the nose board is first to cut channel 5| and then cut the teeth 32.

Secured to the left side of the nose board as viewed in Fig. 3 is a plate 60 held in position on the nose board by screws BI and having secured thereto a hollow fitting 62 which aligns with the adjacent or air inlet end 63 of channel 5|. The plate 60 has a top surface 64 which is preferably flush with the top surface 56 of the cloth board.

The fitting 62 is connected to a pipe 65 leading to a source of compressed air (not shown) and has therein a self-closing valve 66 operated by a cam 61 on the three-pick shaft 2. The valve is opened by a tappet 68 on the cam at a given time in the three-pick cycle of the loom as will be described more fully hereinafter.

The right end of the nose board as viewed in Fig. 3 has secured thereto another plate 10 similar to plate 60 but having a slot 1| therein for a slide valve or air control means 12 connected by rod 13 to the front knife cutter mechanism 6. The slide valve is normally in forward position to leave theexhaust end 14 of channel 5| open, but is adapted to be moved rearwardly by rod 13 across the channel to close its exhaust end when the cutter mechanism 6 rocks to the right, Fig. 1. It is to be understood that mechanism 6 is shown only as a convenient way for operating the slide valve and any other part of the loom operating in correct time relation with the lay can be used.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 4 the fabric F extends over the upwardly opening channel 5| and with the latter defines an air passage K communicating with slots 33 and through which air is forced from fitting 62 to the opposite or exhaust end of the passage. Whenever air is thus forced through the channel any lint or other dirt. designated at L in Fig. 4, which may have fallen into the channel or pushed into the latter by the reed dents and plates 35 will be blown out of the passage provided the slide gate 12 is open.

In the operation of the preferred form of the invention the slide gate 12 will be forward or in open position, and valve 66 will be opened by tappet 68 to introduce air into the passage K when the lay is on front center position and the reed dents are in the slots 33. The reed dents do not completely fill these slots but effectively prevent lateral escape of any substantial amount of air from passage K in a rearward direction. This opening of valve 66 will ordinarily occur on the beatof the loom in which the tube frame is lifted, and immediately after the lifting operation is completed the cutter mechanisms come into action to sever the tufts, and in doing so rod 13 will move the sliding gate 12 rearwardly to close the exhaust end of the air passage K. In order that the reed dents may not interfere with the cuttingoperation the lay will swing rearwardlyfrom the position shown in Fig. 4, thereby opening the slots 33 at about the time the exhaust end of the passage K is closed. The tappet 68 will hold the valve 66 open long enough to continue the introduction of air into the passage K after the gate 12 is in closed position and the air thus introduced will escape laterally through the slots 33 to clean them of lint, etc.

It will thus be seen that the first step in clearing lint from the nose board is to introduce a stream of air into passage K while slots 33 are closed and the exhaust end of the passage is open. The reed dents then move out of their slots 33 and the gate 12 moves to close the exhaust end of the passage to force compressed air laterally through the slots 33. The tappet 68 will then pass from control of the valve ,66 and the latter will close until the next operation is called for.

In the preferred form of the invention it will be noted that the fabric F forms the top part of the passage K and that any lint or dirt released from that part of the fabric over the channel due either to the cutting operation or movement of the fabric by the reed will fall into the slot. During the tuft forming beat-up the last row of tufts to be formed will preferably be supported on the edge or surface 55 and will not be pushed forwardly to a position over the channel. In

this way the rearmost row of tufts is correctly supported and there is no likelihood that any of the rows of tufts can move downwardly into the channel. Fig. 4 shows the reed in its extreme forward position with its leading or beat-up edges rearward of the edges 52 of the slots 50.

In the modified form of the invention the nose board has a plate till-secured thereto at BI and extending rearwardly to the hooks 40, as shown for instance in prior Patent No. 2,293,561. The rear edge of plate 80.is provided with short slots 82 aligned with the slots 33 to receive the reed dents when the latter move to their extreme forward position. Plate 80 extends over the channel 5i and when used will form the upper side of an air passage Kl similar to passage K. The plate 80 is used as an attachment when it is desired to make a cheaper fabric with lower pile tufts. The plate 80 is not necessary in order to carry out the purposes of the present invention, but when used for the purpose specified will form part of air passage Kl. In the modified form the gate 12 will operate as in the preferred form.

When air is introduced into the air passages of either the preferred or the modified form of the invention the comb C will be forward, or in the full line position shown in Fig. 5 and its plates will preferably be below the bottom edges 53 of the slots so as not to interfere with the stream of air. These plates 35 will close the lower forward-part of the slots 33 and thus cooperate with the reed dents to prevent any substantial lateral escape of air during the first step in the cleaning operation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth a nose board similar to the usual nose board except for the channel 5| formed by theslots 50 in the series of teeth extending across the loom. In both forms of the invention the method of cleaning the nose board is the same, that is, a stream of air is directed through the air passage while its exhaust end is open as a first step in the operation while the reed dents and plates 35 are in the slots 33, and then the gate 12 is closed and compressed air escapes laterally through the slots 33 after the reed dents have moved rearwardly. Obviously, all dust, lint etc., which is discharged through the exhaust end of the channel will not need to be forced through the relatively narrow slots 33. In the preferred form of the invention the cloth forms the top of the air passage, whereas in the modified form adapted more for the weaving of a cheaper fab-- ric, the plate forms the top of the air passage- In both forms of the invention the nose board. has a transverse channel formed by aligned slotscut in the teeth of the nose board. Also, it ispreferred in both forms of the inventionto have: the short surface 55 of each tooth extend for-- wardly from the hook 40. This extension may notbe necessary when the plate 80 is used, but if the: latter is removed to permit the weaving of a high-- er grade of fabric with higher tufts it will them be desirable to have the supporting edge 55 to prevent the rearmost row of tufts from falling into the channel 5|. The gate 12 has been shown herein as operated by part of the tuft cutting mechanism, but it will be suflicient if the gate is operated by any other part of the loom incorrect time, that is, after valve 66 has been open sumciently long to blow dust and lint out-of the exhaust end of the channel, after which the gate will be closed to effect lateral escape of the compressed air to clean the slots 33.

Having thus described the invention it will be seen that changes and modifications of the foregoing specific disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In an Axminster loom having a reed, a nose board provided with slots located between teeth on the nose board to receive the dents of the reed, the teeth of the nose board being formed with upwardly opening cross slots which are aligned transversely of the teeth to form an air channel over which extends the fabric being woven, and means to introduce compressed air into said channel to clear the latter of lint which accumulates in the channel incident to the weaving operation.

2. The Axminster loom set forth in claim 1 wherein means are provided to locate the reed dents in the slots between the teeth when compressed air is being introduced into said channel.

3. The Axminster loom set forth in claim 1 wherein means are provided to locate the reed dents in those parts of the slots between the teeth rearward of the channel when compressed air is being introduced into said channel.

4. The Axminster loom set forth in claim 1 wherein the reed dents are in said slots between the teeth rearward of said channel and comb plates are in said slots between the teeth below said channel when compressed air is introduced into said channel.

5. In an Axminster loom having a reed, a nose board provided with slots located between teeth on the nose board to receive the dents of the reed, a hook extending upwardly from each tooth on the nose board, the teeth being formed with upwardly opening slots forward of said hooks and aligned transversely of the nose board to form a channel over which the fabric bein woven extends, and means to introduce compressed air into said channel to remove therefrom lint deposited therein incident to the weaving operation.

6. The Axminster loom set forth in claim 5 wherein the teeth extend forwardly from said hooks to said channel to support the row of tufts nearest to said hooks at a point behind said channel.

7. The Axminster loom set forth in claim 5 wherein each tooth has a fabric supporting. edge extending forwardly from the associated hook to said channel.

'8. In an Axminster loom having a nose board provided with a transverse upwardly opening channel therein, fabric produced by the weaving operation of the loom extending over said channel and forming therewith an air passage into which lint falls incident to weaving of the fabric, and means to introduce compressed air into saidjair passage to remove said lint therefrom.

9. An Axminster loom nose board having spaced teeth extending rearwardly therefrom and having a cloth supporting surface forward of said teeth, each tooth having a cross slot therein below thelevel of said surface and said cross slots being aligned transversely of the nose board to form a channel.

10. An Axminster loom nose board having spaced teeth extending rearwardly therefrom and having a cloth supporting surface forward of said teeth, a hook extending upwardly from each tooth rearward of said surface, and each tooth having an upwardly opening cross slot therein forward of the corresponding hook and below the level of said surface, said cross slots being aligned transversely of the teeth to form a channel.

11. In an Axminster loom having reed dents, a nose board providedwith reed dent receiving slots located between teeth on the nose board, a hook extending upwardly from each tooth, the teeth being formed with upwardly opening slots closed at their bottoms forward of said hooks and aligned transversely of thenose board to form a channel, a cloth supporting plate secured to the nose board extending over said channel to form with the latter an air passage, and means to introduce compressed air into said air passage.

12. In an Axminster loom having a nose board provided with a channel communicating laterally with slots between teeth on the nose board, said channel having an air inlet end and an exhaust end, means to introduce compressed air into the inlet end of said channel to clear the latter of lint while the exhaust end of the channel is open, and means operative to close said exhaust end of said channel to cause air under compression in the channel to move through said slots to clear the latter of lint.

13. In an Axminster loom having a nose board provided with a channel communicating laterally with slots between teeth on the nose board, said channel having an air inlet end and an exhaust end, a reed the dents of which are movable into and out of said slots, means introducing compressed air into the inletend of said channel while the exhaust end thereof is open and the reed dents are in said slots, and means closing the exhaust end ofsaid channel when the reed dents are out of said slots to cause com- 8 pressed air entering the channel to pass laterally therefrom .through said slots to clear the same of lint.

14. In an Axminster loom having a nose board provided with a channel communicating laterally with slots between teeth on the nose board, said channel having an air inlet end and an exhaust end, means to cause compressed air to blow from the inlet end of said channel through the, latter out of the exhaust end of the channel to clear the latter of lint, and means thereafter preventing flow of air out of the exhaust end of the channel and thereby causing compressed air in said channel to escape through the slots to clear the latter of lint.

15. In an Axminster loom having a nose board provided with a channel communicating laterally with slots between teeth on the nose board, said channel having an air inlet end and an exhaust end, means to introduce compressed air into the inlet end of said channel, and control means for said exhaust end causing the compressed air first to clean lint from the channel and thereafter clear lint from said slots, said control means including a gate which is in open position at the start of the cleaning operation to permit exhaust of air through the exhaust end of the channel, said control means thereafter moving to closed position to close the exhaust end of the channel and requiring compressed air in the latter to escape through said slots.

16. The Axminster loom set forth in claim 15 wherein reed dents are located in said slots when said control means is in open position and said reed dents are out of the slots when the control means is in closed position.

17. The Axminster loom set forth in claim 15 including tuft cutting mechanism and operative connections between said mechanism and said control means moving the latter to the open and closed positions thereof.

18. The Axminster loom set forth in claim 15 wherein a guide is mounted on the nose board adjacent to the exhaust end of said channel and said control means includes a slide gate movable in the guide to the open and closed positions thereof.

ARTHUR LAMB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Blanchard Oct. 24, 

